#I did a couple of these with the Leech twins a few weeks ago

[krenenbaker]

Pomefiore Future Appearance Headcanons

I'm going to begin this little set of headcanons with Pomefiore, since I had some pretty strong ideas about what these three may be like appearance-wise a few years down the line

I used this Picrew (adding some edits of my own) and made some images of what I think Vil, Rook, and Epel may look like about a decade or so into the future, in some casual wear :)

Vil

For the most part, he looks fairly similar to how he does in the canon time

Vil grew his hair out slightly - it's approximately collarbone length at this point. The ends of his hair are still purple, though!

He wears reading glasses. The frames he gravitates towards aren't statement pieces, for the most part. Instead, he prefers the more classic, versatile designs, and usually a metal frame.

On his days off, he likes to wear super cozy clothes. He still looks put-together (of course), though the outfits he wears in his downtime are generally able to be described with one word: "soft"

Another appearance headcanon (just a general HC, not specific to future!Vil): He has a very straight nose. It's super pretty, just like the rest of him.

Rook

Grew his hair LONG (again? I like to think he had long hair when he was younger, too), and usually wears it in a braid

Has built a small collection of hats over the years to wear in different situations. Most of them have fairly wide brims - that's definitely still his preferred style, both for fashion and for practicality

His freckles have become more prominent as he has gotten a bit older

His nose is now a little crooked, after it was broken in his early 20s (also, another HC: Rook has an aquiline nose)

He also has a few more little scars from his work, mostly on his hands

Epel

Epel has surprisingly not changed a whole lot, appearance-wise! He looks a bit older, and his face is a little more angular, but the biggest change is in how he carries himself - he's a lot more confident, and it shows

Epel has also found a style that really suits him, and has become really skilled at pairing pieces together to blend different styles, textures, and patterns as well!

He kept his hair approximately the same length as when he was at NRC, but he usually wears it pulled back in a ponytail now, purely for ease while working

His cheeks are often a little bit wind-burned from being outdoors in the orchards and mountains (but mostly from going blastcycling)

Epel got his ears pierced and has a small collection of jewellery, mostly ear cuffs and apple-themed pieces. A number of them were made by local craftspeople in / around Harveston!

[themonotonysyndrome]

Our Intertwine Dream

Another oneshot about Papa Lilia and Malleus with their human teenage son, Silver! I think I’m gonna turn this and the previous oneshot into a series while I’m still having fun writing ‘em and yeah, even if it’s a little late, I wanted to do something to celebrate Silver’s birthday. 

-

“Such a fair and gentle child you are. Quiet too.”

“...”

“My, my what a big yawn that was! Is it nap time already?”

“...”

“...How curious.”

“There you are, grandmother. Lilia said that it’s Silver’s feeding time now.” 

“Oh dear. The little one went out like a candle’s flame. Poor thing must be tired from playing.”

“Silver just woke up three hours ago.”

“Is that so? Say, Malleus dear, how about you and that Fae of yours stay in the castle for a couple more days. I would like to... investigate something.” 

“As you wish, grandmother...”

-

Silver wakes up when he heard his phone vibrated. Blinking a couple of time, he then rubs his crusty eyelids blearily before pushing himself up from the soft bed and sigh deeply. Dawn has made way for bright, morning rays to creep into his room despite the thick curtains.

When his phone on the bedside table vibrate again, Silver snatch it to check his text messages. 

Like any other day, Lilia’s attempt to wake him up for classes is by spamming his phone with a series of pictures that he find interesting or funny. Before, the Fae used to called his phone and sometimes even break through the door when he quickly realised that Silver would actively ignore the calls, but the few success that Lilia managed to get him out of the bed, Silver still ended up sleeping with his face planted inside a bowl of cereal. In the end, practically every one in Diasomnia knew that Silver will wake up whenever he can and the teaching staff of the school allows a little leeway because of his conditions. 

Today, Lilia is spamming his phone with pictures of Savanaclaws’ First Years students chasing each other on the field. Behind them, the sun made its slow ascension to the sky. 

Silver threw his phone on the bed and begin to get ready for the day. If he hurries, he can still make it to breakfast. Freshly showered and donning his uniform, he quickly check that he has his phone, magic crystal and wallet before leaving the dorm. The younger students loitering about the hallway and common room greet him good morning as he head towards the cafeteria.  “Who was that?” “That’s Silver-senpai. A Second Year student. He’s the one I told you about last week. You know, the senior that tutored me and the guys for History of Magic?” “The one that took a nap halfway?”

“Oh, Silver-senpai is always like that. I heard that he can sleep anywhere! But he’s really good at History of Magic though. I even got an A for my test!” 

Silver lets out a yawn as the conversation fades behind him. He had tried his best to stay awake during that tutoring session but the table looked as soft as his bed and before he knew it, the words on his text book look like worms and he blacked out. 

It was nice for the First Years to called Lilia when he was knocked out though. 

Today, the halls of Night Raven College are relatively peaceful. Friends huddled at the courtyard, taking pictures and laughing amongst themselves. A couple of Scarabia students are mingling with two Ignihyde seniors with their laptops out; probably a tutoring session. A Pomefiore student is humming to himself as he pick fresh flowers near the water fountain and a pair of Heartslabyul and Octavinelle students are playing cards; most likely UNO because one of the Heartslabyul student suddenly shrieked, “WHY DON’T I HAVE ANY GREEN!? YOU GUYS ARE CHEATING!” 

“Oh! Good morning, Silver-senpai!” Yuu suddenly greeted Silver just as he was about to enter the cafeteria. Behind the younger boy, he could smell fresh baked breads and strong black coffee wafting in the air. The smell is so strong that it’s probably enough to keep him awake for a whole day. “It’s rare to see you up so early!”

“I managed to wake up on time for once.” Silver reply with a shrug. “Might as well catch up on some classes that I’m lagging behind.” Sebek would scold his ears off if he caught Silver slacking in class, ever. Something about bringing shame and disgrace to Malleus and Lilia and honestly, Silver tends to tune out whenever Sebek started to rant about how great his parents are. 

“That sounds like a great idea Silver-senpai! I’m sure you’ll do well.” Yuu said with a cheer. For some reason, the boy is completely alone; no Grim or those two First Year Heartslabyul students that constantly flank his sides. Unaware of Silver’s musing, Yuu continue, “Anyway, I just saw Lilia-senpai and the others at the table near the hot drink section.” 

“Oh. Thanks. Guess I’ll see you around - ” Silver begins but then Yuu’s eyes suddenly blow wide and before Silver could ask what’s wrong, Yuu hurriedly interrupts him. 

“Ok, nice talking to you Silver-senpai, gotta go to class now! If anyone asks, I’m not here, ok? Bye-bye!” Yuu then ran off without even looking at him. Leaving Silver to stand alone awkwardly in front of the cafeteria’s entrance. 

“Well... that was something - ”

“Oh? If it isn’t Silver-san.”

“What a rare sight to see Jellyfish-san floating in the morning!”

The Leech brothers are smiling widely when Silver slowly turn around. It didn’t escape his notice that, Azul is not with them. Floyd tilts his head - rows of sharp teeth pokes out - and ask, “Say... you don’t happen to see our cute Shrimp-kun, have you?” 

“No.” Silver easily fibbed. Whatever is going on with the Leech brothers and Yuu (and probably Azul) is none of his concern. He decided to leave the twins be when they stare at him with an odd expression; as if trying to decide whether he’s lying or not. True to Yuu’s words, Silver easily spotted Lilia and the rest of their group when he zooms in on the drinks table. Sebek is furiously muttering to himself as he reads a textbook; pages constantly flipping. Lilia is checking his phone with a content smile and beside him, Malleus is diligently cutting his veggie omelette into small pieces. Plates of cold cut fruits, bread and pancakes along with juices and a cup of coffee for Lilia are spread on the table. 

The three of them occupy the large dining table despite how crowded the cafeteria is. 

“Good morning.” Silver greeted the group before taking a seat beside Sebek.

“Silver! You’re awake! Did Mr.Trein’s cat pictures woke you up?” Lilia teases. He tucks away the phone to cupped his face and grin lazily at him. 

“Had a weird dream.” Silver reply and made sure to thank Malleus when the Fae handed him the cut up omelette and a tall glass of orange juice before resuming his own breakfast. He waste no time and dig in. 

“Oh? What was it about?” 

“The face is a bit fuzzy but I was sitting on someone’s lap at a... garden, I think. She had a nice voice.” He said after sipping on his OJ. “It ended when I heard Malleus-sama’s voice.” 

Sebek jerk his head away from the textbook at that. Before he could demand what Silver meant, Lilia interjects with a hum. 

“That sounds too... normal to be a dream. More like a - ”

“A memory.”

Malleus put aside his napkin when the three of them turn their attention to him. He stares at Silver with a thoughtful expression. “It was a summer morning. I came to the garden when Lilia told me that you were with grandmother for the day.” 

Sebek is now in sheer awe - like usual when it’s anything related to Malleus - while Silver’s cheeks are dusted red as Lilia laugh, clutching his stomach in delight. “I remember that summer! It was Silver’s first time visiting the Castle of Thorns. You were such an adorable little one that Malleus’ grandmother insisted that we extended our stay.” Lilia then sigh fondly. “That was a nice summer...” 

And... there Lilia goes, off reminiscing Silver’s childhood. Silver quickly put a stop to it with an embarrassed cough. Lilia merely teases him some more in retaliation. Breakfast continues on until Sebek suggest they head to their respective classes now. Lilia and Malleus had P.E, Sebek went to join a crowd of First Year students drifting upstairs to the second floor; leaving Silver with his Alchemy class. 

He allows himself to be pull along by a couple of his classmates when they notice him rounding the corner. Silver finds it easy to join their conversation since it was about homework and soon enough, they chatted their way to the classroom. 

Mid conversation, Silver yawns. When he rub his watery eyes, something bright red accompany by a smile flash pass him. So quick and sudden, almost like a ribbon - 

“Silver-san?” One of his classmates call out when they notice that Silver had suddenly stop walking with them. “Is something wrong?” 

Silver blink; realise that he had automatically whip around to catch that flash of red but after looking at his sides, students in familiar uniform are mingling around him. No one stood out of the ordinary. 

“Just thought I saw something...” Silver slowly admits. There’s something nibbling at the back of his mind but it refuses to surface despite how hard Silver tries to remember. 

Classes passed through the day without a hitch. Silver finds himself staying awake for all of them that a surprised teacher even commented about it. When homeworks are done with enough time to spare before dinner, he wonder what the others are doing right now. Putting away his books and pencil case into his bookbag, Silver left his room for the dorm’s lounge. Usually Sebek is there around this time and they would bicker and wait for Lilia and Malleus to show up so they could have dinner together. 

But when he reaches the ground floor, Silver is surprise that Sebek is nowhere in sight. Perhaps he’s with his other group of friends? 

He looks around the lounge thinking that Sebek might be hiding behind the book shelves or something, yet only some Third Year students are relaxing on the couch; talking quietly amongst themselves. From the foot of the stairs, a few students walk down behind him. 

“ - did you see Vil-senpai’s new MagiCam post?” 

“The one on tips for short hairstyles? Oh! Is that why you tied up your hair differently after P.E?” 

“What do you think? I’m digging this new look!” 

“Well... at least people know that you actually have eyes now.” 

“Wa - did my bangs really covered my face that badly!? Why did no tell me before?!?”

The chatters gradually fade into background noises when Silver caught an unusual scent lingering behind him; a scent that makes him heady and eyes drowsy, almost instantly. It carries a subtle smell of smokey cedarwood, and blooming tuberoses that remind Silver of hot, creamy crème brûlée that melts on your tongue. 

But the magnetic scent immediately vanishes the moment Silver turn around to chase after it, frantically searching which student wore the cologne. 

“There you are, human! Don’t you know that you’re keeping Malleus-sama and Lilia-sama waiting!?” 

“Sebek?” 

Sebek appear at the entrance of their dorm wearing an unamused expression, hands firmly on his hips. When did he arrive? 

He roll his eyes when Silver continue to stare at him in stupor. “Well? Are you coming or not?” 

Silver shut his eyes and pinch the bridge of his nose. Shaking his head once, it took a while for him orientate himself. “Right. Let’s go.” 

Sebek didn’t question his terse’s reply as they walk towards the cafeteria, thinking that the Second Year student is in one of his moods again. He did throw an odd glance whenever Silver turn around as if he’s looking for someone or something. 

Later when the night grows long and the Diasomnia dorm is silent, Silver lies wide awake; staring listlessly at his bedroom ceiling in the dark. Scrolling through his phone did nothing to tire him out nor did reading boring textbooks help. 

Although, Flyod’s weird MagiCam post of him in a selfie with a happy Jade sitting prim and proper on Azul’s bed and Yuu’s black hair poking from underneath the duvet in the background was... something.

With a huff, Silver twist and turn underneath the duvet before closing his eyes in hopes that he could finally settle in for the night. 

Time seem to creep on before exhaustion claims him and Silver finally falls asleep. 

When he open his eyes, Silver found himself sitting on a picnic blanket. Soft morning rays shine through the tall tree above him. He notices small, bite-size food that are for children are laid out for him on a paper plate. A picnic basket is put aside near the tree’s roots, lacqured boxes of food were placed on the centre of the blanket and an uncapped thermos of hot tea is ready for anyone who wants to drink. 

He also notice that he was sitting on someone’s lap. 

“Oh? Are you finally hungry?” Silver tips his head back to see Lilia smiling down at him. His arms move around his small body to encase Silver in a hug. It was then he realise that he’s in a child’s body. 

“Here. Want some apples? It’s yummy!” Lilia coo as he tries to entice Silver to eat the sliced fruit by wagging it in front of him. 

“Maybe we should try some oranges again?” Malleus suggest, awkwardly holding a whole, round orange in one hand as he inspect it with uncertain, knitted eyebrows. 

“I rather not have him throw them at my hair again, Malleus.” Lilia sighs and put down the sliced apple when he no longer had Silver’s attention. 

As the Faes discuss on how to get him to eat, Silver understand that he’s reliving one of his childhood memories. Sure enough, he could easily spot the castle that belongs to Malleus’ grandmother looming behind the sea of trees.

This is the first time that Silver is consciously aware that he’s dreaming. It feels so surreal being able to coherently think like an adult but posses the speech capability of a seven year old. He grunts and whine to show his displeasure when it’s beginning to feel too warm in Lilia’s embrace. 

“Alright, alright, little man. Stop squirming for a moment...” Lilia neated Silver’s little clothes before finally release him onto the soft grass so he could play. “There! Hopefully you’re tire yourself out until you actually want lunch.” 

“...Is feeding a human child always this difficult?” Malleus couldn’t help but ask when he watch Silver wobble around, looking at everything and anything. 

“You know what? I don’t know.” Lilia admits though he didn’t sound all that concern. He knows that Silver will eat when his little tummy rumble soon enough. “I heard that some kids from a human village can be fussy when it comes to food. Silver might be one of those type.” He hums and tap his chin as he recalls their last meal time. “Then again, I heard that human kids loathe vegetables but Silver enjoyed eating your salad during dinner.” 

The Faes continue to talk while occasionaly keep an eye out on little Silver who is critically inspecting a wild patch of daisies. 

Back to Silver, he internally wonders why he’s reliving this particular memory. He tries to remember what else this memory entail when something pull him away from the flowers. 

That strange scent - cedarwood and crème brûlée - slips around him, thoroughly capture his attention in an instant and deafen him from Lilia and Malleus’s conversation. It envelopes his world that even the sunlight starts to dim when his eyes grows heavy. 

And before he realises it, Silver’s little legs begin to carry him towards the forest. Where the scent seem to be. 

The deeper Silver travese into the forest, the world around him begin to grow dark, as if the tall trees are blocking out the sun. Even the crickets and chirping birds are silenced the longer he walk and yet, he still couldn’t find the scource of that smell! 

“...er?”

Silver pauses. What was that? It sounded like - 

“...ver?”

He wanted to turn around, to move his arms but no matter how hard he tries, Silver stands there, frozen stiff as a statue. 

“...Silver?”

The scent is slightly stronger now. It smells so sweet, so comforting as if beckoning him forward and his legs begin to move again. 

A hand shoot out from the dark to gently grab his shoulder from behind. A familiar voice chimes in, “There you are Silver! I was beginning to worry, little one.” It’s Lilia. It’s Papa. His touch is like an anchor, bringing him back to a sense of safety and familiarity that Silver could sob in relief. “Come on now; it’s time to wake up, love.” 

At that moment, Silver jerks up; eyes wide awake and his heart racing. His room is so bright and warm that he had to squint his eyes a little to adjust his vision when he notice a silhouette that vaguely resemble Lilia sitting on his bed.

“Hang on, let me draw the curtains.” When the room is a little darken, Silver rubs his weary eyes and find that it’s indeed Lilia; his coat uniform and cap drape over the bed. For some reason, he’s studying Silver with a complicated expression; lips pursed and eyebrows knitted in worry. 

“W-What? Silver croak, hating how parched his throat feels. 

“How are you feeling?” Lilia asks immediately. He hovers close to Silver, cupping his clammy face with bare hands as he checks for... something. 

Silver lets the question sinks in for moment. “...Tired.” He admits with a sigh. His heart finally calms down when he leans into Lilia’s touch, eyes heavy but this time, he just wants to bask in Lilia’s warmth. 

Lilia bits his lower lip and slowly withdraw his hands before taking a sit on the bed. “What was the last thing that you did? Did you drunk any funny potion before bed?” 

“What? The last thing I did?” Silver repeated, a little lost but answer him nonetheless, “After dinner, I couldn’t sleep so I tried to bored myself by reading and when that didn’t work, I went to bed. I managed to fell sleep soon enough.” He explains and uneasiness churns in the pit of his stomach when Lilia still look at him strangely. 

He had never seen Lilia wear such expression before. 

“Silver... you’ve been asleep for four days.” 

The ancient Fae’s tentative announcement made Silver’s heart drop like a heavy lead. “...What?” 

“Calm down. Hey, can you look at me, Silver?” Lilia’s voice drops to soothing when he sees the far off look in Silver’s eyes. He holds both of the teenager’s hands when he heard Silver’s breath hitches. He continue to grip on them even when Silver meets his gaze. “It’s alright; you’re awake now and that’s what important. Can you remember if you’ve been dreaming or...”

“We were having a picnic back when I was a child. It’s somewhere behind the Witch’s castle - ”

“I remember that.” Lilia assure him calmly. He only spoke like that to Silver whenever he was spooked but it’s been years since the Fae spoke in such tone now that he’s all grown up. “You were such a curious child. You insist on wanting to pick wild flowers when we’re supposed to have lunch.” 

Wait - 

“...What happened next?”

“You plucked a bunch of daisies and gave them to me and Malleus; dirt and all. You looked so proud despite that you made a mess on the picnic blanket that I scooped you into my arms and we cuddled until you tried to gnaw on my hair.” Lilia laughs softly. “You were so attracted to my hair because of the colours that I had to buy you a black and pink teddy bear for you to obssessed on. Do you remember that?”

No. Silver doesn’t remember any of that... 

And that frightens him.  

“Silver? Talk to me; what are you thinking about?” Lilia pleads when instead of a flustered Silver like he’s hoping, his son in all but blood pales. 

Despite the warm morning, chill runs down Silver’s spine when he said in a detached tone, “I... I think I had a nightmare, but... I can’t remember of what.”

[lazyflan]

JamiKali SickFic, kinda

English is not my first languaje so be kind and if you notice errors please tell me to correct them! Also, my english it's mediocre at best when I'm tired and I haven't sleep in like 24hrs so yeah, this is bad. I don't know what I wrote, so just enjoy, I guess?

---------------------

After Jamil’s OB Kalim started to notice how much he actually depended on Jamil to survive the day.

He used to be awoken by Jamil in the morning, followed by eating breakfast made by him, he also needed Jamil to help him in classes that he didn’t understand and to keep himself awake during these. After classes he would eat some pastries that Jamil made for him and then they studied together, he struggled a lot so the only way to understand the material passed on classes was that Jamil would tell him what to do step-by-step or he couldn’t understand.

But now that he saw how much he kept Jamil behind he decided to became more independent.

The first sleepless nights where he couldn’t forget what Jamil told him during his OB he started to learn some things, like how to put on his makeup, it wasn’t the best the first few times, but after a whole night trying and re-applying makeup he got the hang of it. It didn’t look as good or neat as how Jamil made it, but it passed unnoticed by his fellow classmates, except the ones from Pomefiore, who remarked on it every so often.

He even started to even cook for himself! It wasn’t as good as Jamil’s coking, but it filled his stomach enough to not get hungry until lunch. And after class he started buying snacks that could give him enough energy to continue until dinner.

For his studies he started to join Azul and the Leech twins on the library, he maintained Floyd distracted enough to not bother Azul and Jade, and in exchange they explained the concepts he didn’t understand in class.

He actually managed to not bother Jamil that much and he blossomed during that time, Jamil started to get better grades on most subjects and now that had more time free and away from him he started to make more friend in the dorm.

--------------------

Everything fine, as fine as he could be, now that he knew his childhood friend actually hated his guts. Until he got sick.

He wasn’t accustomed to being sick, last time he got the flu was a couple of years ago. But when he gets sick everyone knows, he stops being active, his attitude gets more gloomy and gets clingier than usual.

It was the first time he got sick without Jamil by his side helping him.

It started on his last class, his head started to hurt ever so slightly, so he thought it was because they had read a lot during that class. But the bad feeling continued during the day. He didn’t eat snacks because he started feeling slightly nauseous, and after that he couldn’t keep up with Floyd during the study session, Azul had given a look at him and sent him to his dorm to get some rest because he “Looked like he was going to faint in any moment”.

When he arrived to his room he went to the bathroom, to notice he actually looked very pale in contrast to his usual tone of skin.

In that moment everything that happened during the last weeks came crushing into him. He felt tired, sad and melancholic. So, for the first time since he arrived to Night Raven College he skipped dinner. He supposed that no-one would notice, after all Jamil wasn’t maintaining an eye on him and the rest wouldn’t think anything from it.

He slipped into his bed sheets and feeling feverish he fell into a dreamless sleep.

--------------------

He woke up thanks to the feeling of a cold hand on his forehead.

He slowly opened his eyes to see Jamil looking him with a worried gaze.

“J-Jamil?” He asked, even when he felt his throat hurt.

That made Jamil notice he was awake.

“Kalim, you have a fever, you should sleep” He responded while he slowly caressed his hair.

With the calm feeling of having Jamil next to him he slowly fell into sleep again.

After what he thinks where a couple of hours sleeping he woke up to Jamil giving him some medicine and a little of soup and water. After that he again fell asleep to Jamil whispering reassurances of him getting better in no time.

He was in and out of sleep, but whenever he opened his eyes Jamil was there to quickly help him with whatever he needed.

--------------------

According to some of his peers a couple of days after that, he was with a high fever for a couple of days and Jamil didn’t leave his side during that time. And that he was the one that noticed his absence at first. When he questioned about Kalim’s whereabouts and nobody had answered he had gone directly to Kalim’s room to find him burning up on his bed.

Jamil had taken care of him during those days, to the point he didn’t sleep and skipped classes.

But once Kalim was feeling better and could actually think and process things Jamil disappeared from his side.

During the days leading to his complete recovery Kalim hadn’t seen Jamil at all. But he wanted to thank Jamil for helping him and ask him why he did it. Because didn’t Jamil hated him?

It took him a couple of days until he managed to find Jamil alone on the Scarabia dorms so he could talk with him.

“Jamil” He called waiting to being noticed by the other.

“Yes?” Jamil looked at him.

“Can we talk?” He asked shyly “In private?” He added knowing that they could be interrupted by his peers.

Jamil send him a questioning look, but the grabbed his arm and draw him to his room.

Once in Jamil’s room they looked at each other awkwardly.

“…so?” Jamil started “What did you wanted to talk about?”

“I just want to thank you… and apologize” Kalim started.

“Ok, then do it” Jamil responded harshly.

In that moment it was like a button was pressed in Kalims mind and he just started talking.

“I-I’m sorry I was such a bad friend, I’m sorry that I never noticed how you felt, even if you were supposed to be my best friend, I’m sorry for never telling you how thankful I was for everything you have made for me, I’m sorry I never acknowledged the sacrifices you did for me. I always took you for granted and I never saw how unhappy you were with me.” He started to say gibberish at this point, but he didn’t cared, he wanted to show Jamil how sorry he was. His body was trembling and he didn’t know at what point pitiful sobs started to wreck his body.

He stopped when suddenly he felt a pair of strong arms circling his body.

“Kalim, calm down” He heard “It’s okay, just calm down and we can talk about this”

Knowing that Jamil wasn’t going to kick him out for his outburst he relaxed a little and threw himself into the secure embrace of Jamil. It remembered him when they were little and Kalim had nightmares and Jamil would calm him down.

He sobbed into Jamil chest murmuring apologies for everything that he had done that separated them.

After a couple of minutes and feeling calmer he reluctantly separated from Jamil.

Jamil looked at him for a couple of seconds and sighed. “I should be sorry, during my oberbolt I said a lot of hurtful things to you” he started but was cut by Kalim.

“No! You don’t have to apologize! I was the one that didn’t notice how you were feeling” He exclaimed. “I never made an effort to actually know how you were feeling about the things I did, I took you for granted and that hurt you, I totally understand that you hate me and don’t want to take care of me anymore” He was startled when he heard Jamil chuckling.

“That’s the problem Kalim, I really want to hate you, but I can’t” He said like it was a matter of fact.

“Eh?” Kalim could only look at Jamil gobsmacked .

“When I noticed that you started to make things by yourself I felt useless.” He continued. “When I saw that you started to put on your make up I was tempted to grab you and do it again because I would always find a flaw on it” He said while taking Kalim’s face between his hands and tracing his eyeliner with his thumbs.

Kalim just looked at him astonished by the revelation.

“I even had to stop myself from making you breakfast and snacks when I noticed that you where struggling with that, I also wanted to snatch you from the library to make sure you where understanding everything in class… I guess old habits die hard.”

Thanks to this revelation Kalim felt his eyes sting with tears. For a second Jamils face showed confusion to the reaction, but Kalim completely threw himself to hug his friend. While between sobs he apologized and thanked him for not leaving him alone and for caring for him.

Jamil, knowing that Kalim wouldn’t calm down for the rest of the day, decided to lift Kamil to his bed and just hold him until he saw fit.

He tucked Kalim’s head under his chin and started to stroke his back with his hand in order to calm him down.

In there, Kalim was lulled to sleep thanks the secure feeling of being in Jamil’s arms and the secure heartbeat he could feel coming from Jamil’s chest.

After all he now knew that their relationship wasn’t completely destroyed.

[revisionaryhistory]

Three Days ~ 56

~*~Emma~*~

Sebastian and I talked and laughed until early morning. By the time I was finished packing it almost wasn't worth going to sleep. There was no way in hell I was going to hang up before he was ready. Cathartic or not, tears are tears. And with his history of being emotionally unavailable, calling me with puffy red eyes is a big fucking deal.

Throwing my phone across the room when the alarm went off seemed like a good idea. I fought off the urge. Half an hour and a cup of coffee later I was on my way to the airport. Flying out of White Plains was a shorter drive with a longer flight. Wound up being about the same as the long drive with a shorter flight from LaGuardia. I loved flying much more than driving. Plus, TSA at White Plains is cake. Past security I got another cup of coffee and settled in until boarding. I had a lovely breakfast on my layover in North Carolina. I do love a good chicken biscuit. In Atlanta I took a picture of the “Welcome” sign and posted it with the caption, "Back where I was born." I hadn't called Atlanta home in many years. I said things like, “It's good to be back", "I missed being here.", and "I'm happy to see you guys." New York was home. Seattle was home. I rarely called Alpharetta home except as a throwaway word to avoid having to explain.

Almost immediately I got a text.

Sebastian ~ Excited for family pix

Emma ~ And live on FaceTime?

Sebastian ~ I’m not afraid of your father. I hear he's a cupcake compared to your dad. Think I can tell you and Amy apart?

Emma ~ We'll see….

 We'd talked about him meeting them. I hadn't thought about how strange it’s been for him to have me all the Vedders, even texting with Ed, but not met my parents and sister. It's way more complicated with the bio family.

I had no idea who was picking me up. I exited security and immediately saw my twin and our mini-me. Amy pointed to me and Katie squealed. Amy let go of her hand and my little niece came running. I scooped her up with the reward of having my face covered in kisses. Best welcome ever. Katie wrapped her arms tight around my neck, not letting go even when we got to her mom. I was shocked by Amy's appearance. I held Katie with one arm and hugged her, "We haven't looked so identical since we were thirteen." I combed my fingers through her shoulder-length hair that was now nearly the same color as mine.

Amy put her head back and shook out her hair, "Took three visits to get the red out and tone down the brassiness."

I smiled, "If I say you look gorgeous is that vain?"

"Definitely, but also true." She hooked her arm in mine and we headed to baggage claim. "The parental units want us to drop by the hospital before heading home. They took off Monday and Tuesday. They have a full schedule for you."

I rolled my eyes, "You can fill me in as we drive. Anything we talk about I'll just have to repeat when we get to them. Right now, I want to hear from my munchkin baby girl." I tickled Katie, getting her laughing and successfully avoiding questions. I'd figure out when to tell them about Sebastian when I heard what was planned. My tentative plan was for tonight at dinner.

Katie told me all about her preschool and her toys while we waited for my suitcase and halfway to the hospital. She only stopped when her favorite song came through the speakers. After a rousing rendition of "There's a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea" I turned my attention to Amy. "What's the plan?"

"Today we're on our own until dinner. They said we'll decide on food later. A bunch of people from high school are going out on the lake tomorrow. I thought that would be fun. Mom said they'd keep Katie."

A lot of our old friends still lived in town. I hadn't seen anyone for a couple of years. "Sounds fun."

"Sunday family is coming over. Mom wants to tell you the rest. I promised."

I laughed, "Shopping and a spa day."

"I didn't tell you."

Fifteen minutes later we were swinging Katie between us across the parking lot. Mom and dad were heads of their departments. Neuro for dad and OB/GYN for mom. Our directions were always the same upon our arrival. Sign in and proceed to the fourth-floor doctor's cafe. Security would have paged them and they'd meet us there. I got coffee for us and ice cream for Katie.

Mom arrived first. She was the blond hair, blue-eyed version of me. Dad had dark hair and blue eyes. Amy and I were a great combination of them. Mom had us young and was not quite fifty. They always said we were planned, but who the hell plans kids right after graduating from college. Mom deferred her first year of med school. We had a wonderful nanny.

After a long hug, mom held my hands and stood back to look at me. "You look beautiful as always. Maybe a little tired."

Such a mom thing to say. "I was up late and slept on the plane."

She nodded and hugged me again, "A day by the pool will be good for you."

"Always. I hear family is coming Sunday?"

"A cookout." She looked at Amy then back to me. "I suppose your sister told you about Monday?"

"No." I slowly smirked, "I guessed, but she neither confirmed nor denied."

"Your father's going to give Wendy the day off and spend the day with Katie while we do a bit of shopping then a trip to the spa." She fingered my hair. "Maybe cut some of this."

I pushed her hand away playfully, "Nope."

I felt hands on my shoulders before hearing my dad’s voice, "I can not imagine what you'd look like with shorter hair."

I looked up and behind me with an incredulous look on my face. I pointed across the table at my twin. The one with shorter hair, "Possibly exactly like her?"

"No, you two look nothing alike." Worst dad joke ever. He took me away from mom and hugged me. "How is my youngest daughter?"

"Good. Waking up."

Dad sat on the opposite side of me from mom. "I've never understood how you fall asleep so fast on a plane."

"I like to float."

I turned my attention to mom, "Are we still on for Tuesday?" Mom did exams at a local woman’s shelter. The head counselor, Stacy, had worked at the rehab facility I’d been hidden away in. Going to visit her and the women was always the highlight of any trip back.

"Stacy is excited to see you."

"And me her."

She put her hand over mine," Not a problem to move my day."

"Thank you."

A man who looked to be a few years older than me approached our table. From the ID badge on his white coat, I knew his name was. Dr. Burns and he was a Neuro Fellow.

"Dr. Marcum, I didn't know you had two beautiful daughters and granddaughter."

"I’m overrun with beautiful women. I'm very lucky."

"Of course," he looked at my mom, “Dr. Marcum as well."

I looked at Amy to see her cover her mouth with her hand. Eligible doctor as bait was new.

Dad introduced us, "Emma is down from New York for a long weekend. Always hoping we can persuade her to move back home."

I looked at the bait, "I hope he's as clear with what he wants from you."

Bait laughed, "I'm lucky to have the opportunity to train with your father."

I was feeling like a prize to be won. Thankfully, there was someone else who thought I was a prize in a less icky way. I didn't respond to bait, preferring to take a drink of my coffee.

"I need to check post-ops. Nice to meet you, Emma. I'll see you upstairs, Dr. Marcum." He nodded to my mom and was off.

Amy burst out laughing, "Oh dad, that was horrible."

"What?" He shrugged, "Young, single, wants to stay here in Alpharetta. We could invite him to dinner. I know his schedule."

I groaned. I guess now was the time. "I appreciate your attempt to lure me back, but I don’t think my boyfriend would like me going on a date with someone who isn't him."

Amy perked up, "Boyfriend?"

"There's a picture of us on Instagram. I’ve been waiting for you to comment.”

"No!" She whipped out her phone. "This picture of the volleyball tournament is the only... oh wait... there is a man wrapped around you. I didn't pay attention."

"Let us see," my mom took the phone. "This is too small. Plus, he's hidden behind you in a hat. We can barely see him."

"He must be ugly." Amy stole a bite of Katie's ice cream.

"He is not ugly."

"Deformed in some way. A huge hairy mole in the center of his forehead like a third eye."

I laughed at her, "Are we thirteen again?"

"Thirteen was fun."

My parents were enjoying our banter, I was too. Mom looked at me, "Do you have a better picture?"

"I do." I pulled up the one from the festival with the teddy bear. "This was a couple of weeks ago. I won the bear."

I handed my phone to mom. Her eyebrows raised. "Not deformed. Or Ugly. Not even close. He looks familiar."

Amy took my phone and in under two seconds looked at me with her mouth hanging open, "Carter Baizen?"

"I didn't know you watched Gossip Girl?" I was in Seattle before it premiered.

"Everyone at school did. I only pretended I didn’t."

Dad took my phone, instantly smiling, "You look like you're having fun."

I laughed, "It was a fun day."

Mom looked at me then Amy, "Who is Carter?"

"He was a character in Gossip Girl. Hot, but an ass. The actor who played him went on to in the Marvel Movies as the Winter Soldier."

Dad scrunched up his face, "The brain damaged assassin who killed Tony’s mother?"

"Yes." I was not about to argue brain washed versus brain damaged with a neurosurgeon. "His name is Sebastian Stan."

I took my phone back and swiped to a picture of us at the volleyball tournament. Dad raised his eyebrows with a nod. Mom said, "He's very handsome."

Amy smirked, "If I swipe will I find nudes."

"Sorry, no."

"No, I won’t find them or no you don’t have any."

"Don't have."

"Damn."

I don't know what I expected from Amy, but this wasn't it. I hadn't told them about Jimmy. I just brought him home. He was the last real boyfriend. Amy’s current reaction was much more typical of early high school. My parents looked cautious.

Amy cut her eyes up to me, "Kissing in the dark restaurant. Go you, little sister."

Dad turned his attention to me, "Is this serious?"

I could feel the tension leech out of me and my face soften with a smile, "Yes, it is."

"When do we get to meet him?"

I shrugged, "We can FaceTime him after dinner. He's getting ready for a role and is home."

"I'm looking forward to meeting him." Mom put her hand on my arm. "What's he like?"

"He's very sweet. Awkward at times and trips over himself. We laugh all the time and have these great conversations about books, movies, and music. He's very good to me." I didn't want to talk non-stop about him. I wanted them to know of him and over the weekend they'd learn about him. About us. "I'm sure you'll get sick of hearing about him. What are we doing for dinner tonight?"

Katie yelled, "Pizza!"

"I love pizza." There was an amazing pizza place near the house. We’d been going there since we were Katie’s age.

Amy agreed with me, "Easy and we don't have to get out of the pool."

I looked at my arm, "I desperately need a tan."

Dad stood up, "I'm going to get back to work so I can get out of here to enjoy my girls."

"Tell Dr. Friendly the date's off."

Dad glared at Amy. I didn't try to hide my smile. Mom stood while shaking her head. I got up and hugged them. I stayed still while they walked away then looked at Amy, "Let's get out of here. Can I drive?" I was feeling a little out of control and needed to be in charge of driving.

Amy threw me the keys, "As long as you can talk and drive."

Any guesses what the topic of conversation was? The drive home wasn’t long. Walking into the house I felt much more at ease. I think I was more nervous than I was aware of. Sebastian's important.

Amy handed Katie off to the nanny, Wendy. That felt familiar. We'd grown up in this house. This scene had happened innumerable times when we walked into the house. I waved when Katie turned on her way downstairs to her playroom. I followed Amy up the stairs to my room. She stopped at my door, "Are you going to unpack? And call Sebastian?"

"No." I shook my head, "I'll do both later. Can you send me the picture of me with Katie at the airport?"

"Absolutely. We'll be thirty soon. Bio-clock is ticking."

I was aghast, "Amelia! Our mother is an Ob/Gyn. You know that's not true." We laughed.

"Ok, so he can see how good you look with a kid."

I sighed dramatically, "Everything is not about Sebastian. Plain old Instagram. Me and my niece." I’m not playing those games with him. "The picture I'm going to have you take of me in my bikini... that's all about him."

That perked her up, "We'll get Wendy to take a twin picture."

I rolled my eyes, "He'll enjoy that too."

Five minutes later I was jogging down the stairs and heading out the French doors. The water was sparkling with the sunlight. It was hot and sticky outside making floating perfect. I threw a couple of towels on the loungers and threw two floats into the pool. Amy was coming out the door as I grabbed my phone off the table. I unlocked before handing it to her.

Amy followed me around the pool, "Remember when we'd pretend we were models and take pictures of our fashion shows?"

"I do. Our phones would be full of them. I’ll need to learn more editing skills when the wrinkles show up."

Amy rubbed at the corners of her eyes, "Crows feet already."

"I have a great eye cream." She took some of me then we got Wendy to take a couple of us, ending with us floating in the pool holding hands. I hopped onto the pool edge and took my phone back. I waited for Wendy to go inside, "Ok, jump out and take one more of me on the float.” Amy took my phone and I took off my bikini, lying face down on the float.

"I cannot believe I'm partaking in this."

"Oh please, who better. It's my naked ass and yours looks identical."

"My ass doesn't look like that anymore. Pregnancy stretched that out too."

I looked at my twin in her black one-piece with cut out sides. She always had the thinner body I wanted. After Katie, she'd not lost the last bit of baby weight from her stomach and her butt. "You look great, Amy."

She put her hands over her breasts, "These have stayed a little bigger too."

"I think I’m insulted."

Taking the picture Amy asked, "Are you going to turn over?"

"Absolutely not."

"Seriously? He has seen it, right?"

"Yes." I slid into the water and started putting my suit back on. Anything that naked he or I was taking.

Amy was back on her float before I was on mine, "I've sent nudes. Not just my butt."

"To whom, dear sister?"

"It's been years ago now. He lives in Marietta. I met him at a playground with Katie. Single parents’ version of a bar. Only he was pretending to be single."

I cringed, "Ouch, I'm sorry. How did you find out?"

"When his wife called me from his phone. We'd been seeing each other for a couple of months I thought I was falling in love with him, but I was just a side piece. He wanted to keep it going even after." She shuddered, "Not mistress material."

I made a decision to trust her with something. It had been a long time, "I never told you why Jimmy and I broke up. He'd been cheating with another lawyer in his firm for months. As the one who was cheated on, I thank you for refusing to go on with it once you knew."

"Did you know the other woman?"

"Yep, even considered her a friend."

"I'm always paranoid now that there's a hidden wife. After Jimmy do you worry Sebastian will cheat?"

I didn't need to think, but I took a moment anyway. "I'm not worried about him cheating. I don't think he would. If he does... I've survived it before."

We shared a look I hadn't anticipated. We’d both survived things. I reached for her hand. "I love you, Amelia."

"Love you too, Emiliana."

"What about now? Seeing anyone."

"Maybe sorta. Back after Christmas a bunch of us from high school got together. Max was there. He's divorced with a daughter in first grade. He has custody and wanted to wait until summer to move back so his parents can help with her. We texted and talked some. He moved back a couple of weeks ago. We've gone out to dinner. It was good. He'll be there tomorrow."

I remembered Max very well. He was a baseball player who looked very good in those pants. He was a year ahead of us and I had no idea what he'd done after high school. I didn't keep up with anyone except the occasional text or Instagram from a couple of girls on the volleyball team. Anything I knew was tidbits from Amy. She'd tried to get me to go to her five and ten year reunion, but I didn't graduate from here. I went to my reunions back in Seattle. Kept up with more friends from there and saw them when I was home. "Didn't you have a crush on Max?"

I recognized the smile on Amy's face. She looked just like me when I'd been caught. "He won't let me forget."

We laid in the pool laughing and talking. It had been a long time since I'd felt this close to her. I can't be sure if that's her, me, or a little of both. Doesn't matter because it was just good and before we knew it mom and dad were home. They brought Katie with them out to the pool deck. "We sent Wendy home. Just family this weekend."

Amy sat up, "Remember we're going out on the lake tomorrow."

Mom smiled, "I remember. Are you two hungry?"

The second she mentioned food my stomach growled. I put my hand over, "Very."

A discussion about pizza toppings ensued. At the end I got out of the pool, "I'm going shower before the food gets here."

Amy followed, "Me too."

[thosebizzareserpents]

Marcus Flint:

He gets an owl after the End-of-Term Feast. It reads “Falcons don’t fly after caged-birds, fly free.” It is his mother’s handwritting. Always with the cryptic messages and riddles. Marcus mother was born into the House of Avery also listed on the Sacred 28, the first to be sorted into Ravenclaw. Don’t come home it meant. Her father and younger brother had chosen their fates, you won’t follow in their footsteps. The Flint family held a neutral position since the first war, and the Flint patriarch was as stubborn as their namesake. he’d give his father and brother-in-law a run for their money.

The Falmouth Falcons gain a new Chaser. He runs into Duncan Inglebee and Heidi Macavoy former Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, they now play for the Balleycastle Bats and Pride of Portree respectively. They grab a few drinks at the Three Broomsticks. Matches have been canceled, the League has been threatened to shut down and players and managers alike are missing. Puddlemere United has lost a couple players even on the reserve team. Marcus has sinking feeling, a pang of fear. Where’s Oli - Wood? Duncan shifts uncomfortablely in his chair “Mate -”. Heidi looks around, she sighs softly “he’s joined the fight, Marc.“

Terence Higgs:

Terence notices the signs. Bertie Higgs was acting quite strange just like a certain Pius Thicknesse. Most of the high ranking ministry officials were except for Amelia Bones who was murdered three weeks ago and Rufus Scrimgeour, now appointed Minister of Magic.Well make that two more exceptions. One  crisp early morning, the McLaggen brothers Tiberius and Ceallach, with Cormac in tow, show up at his doorstep. “It’s time to hunt Nogtails.” Get dressed Terry.“ They’re rowdier than ever. Tiberius runs to the top of the stairs and yells “Albert Higgs it’s Nogtail hunting time!” Ceallach and Cormac McLaggen are grinning ear to ear. Terence isn’t one to be overly emotional but damn these bloody Gryffindors don’t they understand what’s happening. He’s ready to explode when Ceallach wraps an arm around him. Bertie’s going to be fine, Tibby and I will see to that. “Can’t let these pack of leeches suck the life out our best mate.”

Adrian Pucey:

Adrian wasn’t to keen of working for the Ministry after Hogwarts, that was one place he wouldn’t step foot in unless to visit Terence of course. He became a Metal Charmer. It was an uncommon profession in the wizarding world, but an untapped well. It was a where your craft can could be molded, in ever expanding branches. Very lucrative and highly rewarding and Adrian was always up for a challenge. So off to Bowman Wright’s School in Manchester he went.

He takes a job offer in Portugal in ‘95 and sets off. Adrian gets word from Peregrine that the Ministry of Magic is under the control of Dark Lord. Terence worked in the Department of Magical Games and Sports, he wasn’t as high ranking official like his brother Bertie, but that still didn’t make Adrian worry any less. After the fifth letter and no response, and a thoughts of the worse imaginable he gets a small letter. Bertie under the imperius, with the McLaggens. Stay away. Too bad for Terry, Adrian never listened. He was packed and had portkey at the ready.

Gemma Farley:

The Forest of Dean is not Hogwarts. There are no houses. There are no snakes, badgers, eagles or lions. There are no professors, head boy and girl or prefects here. She has lost her family. Her grandmother Madge Farley was a muggle-born. Gemma’s mother Bella, refused to have her mother subjected to the Muggle-born Registration. She hexed Corban Yaxley leaving the Ministry. Gemma’s father Charlie often talked about an old housemate named Caradoc Dearborn and how he had joined an “Order” during the First War. He would say “they never found his body, old man Dearborn died of heartbreak.” Her older brother’s Jake flat was ransacked, both his flatmates were killed. there was blood trail that just stops, says muggle authorities. Behind the disillusionment charm, the Snatchers call out a list of names, while counting the captured. She hears “Farley’s been taking to the Quarry.“

Lucian Bole:

If Lucian wasn’t at quidditch practice then he was at Charms club. Professor Flitwick held them on the weekends at three so it was convenient for his schedule and nobody took notice. Usually you go to your head of house for career counselling, but as it stood Lucian had a certain disregard for the rules and it earned him 4 weeks nightly detention from a disgruntled Professor Snape. Robert did say Flitwick’s door was always open and he couldn’t pass up the cupcakes. He aimed to be a charms master and the best was teaching at Hogwarts. Lucian great-grandmother was a classmate of Filius Flitwick during her time at Hogwarts and she witnessed when he became duelling champion against a pretentious wizard who claimed to be a descendant of one the Silver Spears. “Well now Mr. Bole I’m quite honored, now be prepared there will be  arduous tasks involved. I will expect to see you 7am promptly after graduation of course.”  

 Lucian lived in Worcestershire, England, his neighbors a few miles away were the Midgen family, and their daughter Eloise had essentially turned the home into a safe house for muggleborns. On Potterwatch radio it was oddly dubbed the “Bursting Swan.” Lucian worked with Eloise to set up a Fianto Duri charm around the manor as well as other protective charms. Under Professor Flitwick tutelage, it took Lucian a month which was a feat in itself to master the Protego horribilis, so he added that as well for security. One evening there’s a burst of light, the intruder alarm sounds. On the grounds outside there’s at least 20 people running towards the manor, he recognizes Gemma Farley ushering the injured in. One man say they’ve come from the Forest of Dean, prisoners at the Quarry. Lucian and Eloise look toward Gemma for confirmation.  “There is no Quarry, I destroyed it.”    

Peregrine Derrick:

Peregrine sits in on the edge of the Nile riverbanks. After Hogwarts he decided to take up curse-breaking as a career.  His grandfather says this one of the last letters he’ll send for a while. Godric’s Hollow is a shell of its self, many have fled or disappeared. His grandfather has gone into hiding.

Nderim Derrick had raised him since he was four years old, after his mother, an Auror was killed in the First Wizarding War. Peregrine apparates to Hogsmeade, Florean Fortescue would know what happened. His grandfather and Mr. Fortescue had been best mates since their first train ride. Both their ancestors were headmasters of Hogwarts at one point Dexter Fortescue and Edessa Sakndenberg. The ice cream palor is in worse condition than their home. He runs into Bill Weasley, a curse-breaker as well but hasn’t seen in him Egypt as late. He now knows why. Peregrine transfers to a desk job at Gringotts, the next night he attends an Order meeting.

‘Cassius Warrington:

His mother cackles at the sight of his face. When his parents walked into the school’s hospital, after Cassius face had just been jinxed into a cornflake like substance. “This what you get for joining that pink-coated frump Dolores” his father’s face twisted into a scowl. A week after graduation Cassius wakes up in a daze in the USA, to be more specific Darby, Montana. Aloisia Warrington (née Roche) was an American witch and descendant of famed Auror Berthilde Roche. It was a culture shock to say the least. Her relatives, the Roche Family would sort Cassius out before he got himself into more trouble.

In ‘98 he receives an owl from his former quidditch captain Marcus Flint. When he arrives in London the atmosphere is more than stifling, its not right here. He apparates to Flint’s apartment. He’s greeted by old teammates Lucian, Peregrine, Terence, Adrian. “Where’s Captain?” “Kitchen mate, he’s waiting for you” Cassius makes two steps and receives a punch. “Heard about your little squad in 7th year Cornflake face.” There’s a roar of laughter from the living room. War or not he be damned, he missed these prats. By the way has anyone seen or heard from Montague?

Graham Montague:

Graham feels sick. Sicker than when the Weasley twins pushed him into the Vanishing Cabinet. He’s more nauseous than when Madam Pomfrey fed him that potion. Unwanted tears stream from his eyes, his nose and chest are bleeding profusely. Graham’s been hit with a curse or hex. His trying to get out words, but instead there’s nothing but bile. “They’re dead, please get up..more might come.” Her name was Mizuno Yoshii. She was a muggleborn, supposed be at Hogwarts in her third year. Her family and two others were trying to keep hidden. Graham told them to leave while they still could. Their parents were leery about the pamphlets on Muggle-born Registration and they had every right to be.

He’s fucked up from day one. When Flint left, Graham thought he was going be the big man on campus, the new Slytherin Captain. He was a shit captain and shit teammate. Even Cass and Miles earned more respect from Marcus. What was the point joining that silly squad? The more he was around that Umbridge lady the more Graham got a bad vibe from her. It was getting harder to see now, he could barely feel the girl shaking him.

Miles Bletchey:

He was a Healer now, but these days Miles felt more like an undertaker. It was always too late, you couldn’t get to them fast enough. When the Montgomery family came in with their youngest child it was too late. He wasn’t squeamish of blood, but this was just heart wrenching. Healer Smethwyck sat outside, he had not changed his robes since they worked on the child. “I was where you are now when the First Wizarding War started, just a resident getting my feet wet.” It seemed a much crueler time, the senior Healers and Medi-wixen called it a bloodbath and it was.“ I remember when they brought in the bodies of the Bones family in, babes of only six and nine.” This has become the norm, we do what we can.

There’s commotion in the Tear Room. “The Dark Lord is at the Hogwarts!” Battle has broken out they’re attacking the school!  Miles sprints off and starts grabbing every single potion, bandages, stretchers he can get his hands on and starts charming them into his satchel. Healer Smethwyck blocks the doorway. “Where are you going Healer Bletchey!?” Not making eye contact, and still procuring items “They’re not coming to us, we have to go to them.” Madam Pomfrey is a profound healer but if it’s as they, then she going to need all the help she can get. “I’m not waiting around.” This will not be the norm for me”

[nyeusigrube-haven]

All Just Glass 2005 Rough Draft: Chapter 2

Chapter 2

“The healer was stalling us and you know it,” Zachary said.

“Yeah.” Adianna shuddered at the vampiric aura lingering in the room. Alone, it wasn’t strong enough to bother her, but knowing that it was Sarah made it horrific. “But we would never be able to prove it.”

How had things gotten so bad, so quickly?

They never should have moved from the city. Sarah had been happy there. Dominique hadn’t exactly approved of her friends then, either, but the riffraff hunters Sarah sometimes hooked up with were worlds better than vampires.

Adianna had given Sarah to them. She had turned her back and let that leach take Sarah’s blood, and give her his. She had lost control, she had panicked, and she had let them kill her sister.

“She’s gone now,” Zachary said, as he briefly searched the room, “and it doesn’t look like she was here more than a few hours. She didn’t leave anything.”

Adia nodded, trying to keep her expression as cold and emotionless as her cousin’s.

“I doubt she would have stayed nearby, but I’m going to check the rest of the rooms just in case,” Zachary volunteered. “Why don’t you look around downstairs and see if anyone knows anything?”

His voice was calm, but there was a glint in Zachary’s eye that said he was enjoying this turnaround. Any other time, Adia would have enjoyed the chance to ransack SingleEarth just as much. A few weeks ago, Sarah would have loved the chance.

That final fact was what dimmed the joy this time.

The healer had distress naked on her gaze as Adia entered the main foyer again, this time without Zachary. After hesitating for a moment, looking at Adia as if trying to decide who was the greater threat, Caryn Smoke bypassed Adia to take the stairs, probably hoping to forestall Zachary if he got aggressive with any of SingleEarth’s tenants.

Wrong choice. The thought popped into Adia’s head as Caryn disappeared up the stairway, and someone else appeared at the door.

Nissa Ravena: dark hair, fair skin, black eyes, a pretty face, and the older sister of twin murderers. One of Kaleo’s many fledglings, she was about one hundred and fifty years old.

She was also remarkably naïve. The expression that crossed her face as she saw Adia purposefully crossing the room was not fear, but compassion. She made no attempt to run, though she could have, easily. Instead she stepped further into the room and let Adia come to her.

“You’re Sarah’s sister, right?” Nissa asked. They had only met once- though “met” might be too strong a word, since the moment had mostly involved Adia dragging Sarah away from this girl and her brother, Christopher. “Adianna?”

Nissa didn’t even begin to look nervous until Adia caught her arm and pulled her aside, and even then she went with it. Despite the shivery feeling that always came from being so near the undead, Adia kept a hand on Nissa’s wrist, using just enough of her power that she knew the vampire wouldn’t be able to disappear until this conversation was over.

“Where’s Sarah?”

“Safe,” Nissa answered. “She made it through the change and her first night all right.”

That wasn’t what Adia had wanted to hear, or even more than she already knew- or wanted to think about.

“She didn’t kill anyone,” Nissa added, which meant that Adia wasn’t hiding her distress very well. Nissa was trying to console her.

She was only making things harder.

“Where can I find her?”

“She’s-” Adia knew the exact moment that Nissa reevaluated what was going on, and realized that Adia’s questions weren’t exactly based on concern. Horrified, the vampire asked, “Are you looking for her because she’s your sister, or because she’s your prey?”

At the same time, Nissa tried to pull her arm back, and realized that Adia wasn’t about to let her go.

“Nissa, I know she was your friend,” Adia said. “I know Nikolas and Kristopher are your brothers. I-” She broke off her calm words, shook her head, and instead of the manipulative lie she had been planning on, spoke the absolute truth. “Personally, I blame you for what has happened to Sarah.”

Nissa tried to jerk her arm back again, and cringed when she felt a moment of Adia’s power. She snapped, “Have you ever occurred to you that maybe it’s your family’s fault? You’re the ones who drove her away over a friendship.”

“And you’re the one who connected her to a serial killer,” Adia replied. She was on the verge of losing her temper, which wasn’t good, and so she forced herself to take a deep breath and continue with what she had been saying. “Personally, I blame you and apparently you blame me- but this isn’t personal any more. Do you understand that if you don’t tell me what you know, I am not only allowed but obligated to kill you?”

“Not here,” Nissa argued, though her voice had gone softer, a little less sure. “I’m a member of SingleEarth. Your own laws say you’re not allowed to hurt me here.”

“Normally, that would be true,” Adia agreed. “But your brothers have killed not one but two Vida witches.”

“Sarah isn’t dead!” Nissa protested. “Now let go of me.”

“She’s dead by our standards, and no.” Out of the corner of her eye, Adia saw Zachary come back into the main room. “You really want to tell me what you know before my cousin gets over here. He won’t be as gentle as I will, or as forgiving.”

“This is forgiving?”

“You could be dead,” Adia pointed out. “Nissa, I don’t want to hurt you.”

Zachary had noticed them and was crossing the room.

Adia noticed the other vampire only in the instant that he swung at her, a punch that would have connected with her jaw if her senses weren’t already so sharpened by stress. She dodged, letting go of Nissa’s wrist in the process.

The girl was smart enough to disappear instantly, at which point the vampire who had attacked Nissa jumped back, raising his hands above his head as Zachary ran the last few yards to join them.

“I can tell you what you need to know,” the stranger said quickly, before either hunter could retaliate.

“Strange way of offering information,” Zachary said.

The vampire slowly lowered his hands. “If I had spoken to you in front of Nissa, she would have instantly run to her brothers to warn them.”

“Why are you talking to us?” Adia asked.

“I don’t like Nikolas, and even if I did, he can take care of himself. Nissa can’t. Her brothers made their own choices. She shouldn’t be the one to pay for them.”

“What do you know?”

“Nikolas is hosting a bash tomorrow night.” He turned over one of the small white cards, marked only with an address, that was traditionally the only invitation to such a gathering. “It isn’t at his primary home, so it will do no good for you to go early looking for him, but he’ll be there for the party. Kristopher probably will, too.”

“And Sarah?”

“I don't know what she’ll do,” he answered. “She strikes me as the loyal sort, though. If you go after Nikolas and Kristopher, I bet she’ll show.”

The loyal sort. Adia wasn’t certain whether the words were meant to be a dig, or not.

“You’d really kill your own sister?” the vampire asked.

Adia was saved having to answer as Zachary looped an arm around the vampire, pressed a palm over his throat, and with a quick slice of power knocked him out. Someone in the main SingleEarth building cried out when they saw him collapse.

Zachary worked swiftly, using a skill that neither Adia nor Sarah had ever mastered as well as he wrapped the vampire’s power in his own.

Caryn was at their side instantly.

“What did he do?” the healer demanded.

“He’ll be fine,” Zachary assured her, though it obviously galled him to have to say it. “He’ll sleep for a few days and wake up hungry- but I imagine you have enough bleeders on hand to deal with it. I didn’t want him warning anyone.”

He handed the vampire over to Caryn, who staggered under the unexpected deadweight. Someone else came to her side to help her.

“Let’s get out of here,” Zachary said.

Adia nodded.

Zachary appeared fine until they reached the parking lot, at which point he tossed Adia his keys and collapsed into the passengers’ seat, massaging his temples. “Would have been easier to kill him,” he grumbled, as she started the car.

“SingleEarth wouldn’t have thanked you for it.”

“And someone there would have been offended enough to go to the leeches and warn them, I’m sure.”

Adia had personally been more worried about at what point the many vampires who belonged to SingleEarth would start fighting back. Most of them were weak and unskilled, but there were always a few so-called reformed killers who knew how to fight.

“Will you be okay?”

“Fine.” His voice was sharp. “I just burned a lot of power. I’ll want to chop my head off with an ax for a couple hours, but it will pass.”

He leaned back in the bucket seat as Adia drove them both back to Dominique’s. After greeting their line’s matriarch with perfect poise, as if he didn’t have a migraine trying to split his skull open, he respectfully asked to be excused for a few hours.

Adia explained what they had learned at SingleEarth and turned the invitation over to Dominique before she too asked to be excused.

“Go,” Dominique said. “I will start making plans for tomorrow night.”

“Thank you.”

She ascended the stairs and crossed the hall to her room in even, controlled steps. It wasn’t until she had closed her bedroom door behind herself that she started shaking.

Adianna Vida was on the verge of breakdown. Complete emotional meltdown. She knew it; everyone knew it, from Dominique and Zachary probably to Nissa and the nameless vampire who had given them the invitation.

Are you looking for her because she’s your sister, or because she’s your prey?

She took a deep breath. Control. Control.

Dear goddess.

She pulled a brush through her hair as if to avenge a wrong committed against her.

You’d really kill your own sister?

Sarah wasn’t her sister any more. She was just one of them, now. One of them, and it was Adia’s fault. She’d had a chance to do the right thing. She could have killed Kristopher and let Sarah die honorably. She should have.

Panic, fear, loss. What kind of excuses were they?

She would never get out of her head the image of Sarah lying there with the blush of blood on her lips.

Track her down, Dominique had ordered. I don’t care how long it takes. Track her down, and when you find her, put a knife in her heart.

And she would, because she had received the order, and to defy it could get her disowned. Adianna and Zachary were the last pureblooded witches in their line. That line could not be allowed to die. It was as simple as that.